Biological pre- and postharvest disease control strategies depend on successful colonisation and survival of the introduced antagonists on the infection court. Effective and economical applications involve targeting the antagonists where they are critically needed i.e. the infection court. Honeybee dispersal is one method of antagonist application to such specific sites. In view of this, an in vitro experiment was conducted to investigate attachment, colonisation and survival of Bacillus subtilis on avocado flowers. Scanning electron microscopy studies showed that the bacterium could attach and colonise avocado flower surfaces. It can also survive on the flowers for longer periods of time. In vivo mode of action of the antagonist against stem-end rot (SER) pathogens was also studied where results showed lysis and degradation of hyphae and conidia. However, no viable colonies were retrieved from bee antagonist dispersal under field conditions. Bee antagonist dissemination was compared with antagonist and fungicide spray applications in terms of SER control and the added effect on other diseases such as Cercospora spot and anthracnose. Spray applications of the antagonist were more effective in reducing the incidence of SER than bee dissemination. Integrated sprays of the antagonist and fungicides significantly reduced the incidence of both pre- and postharvest diseases. The identity of Dothiorella aromatica, one of the most important SER pathogens, was investigated at a molecular level. RAPD techniques using the discriminatory OPC02 primer successfully separated isolates into three groups based on banding profiles. A further study using RFLP identified the pathogen as a Botryosphaeria spp. The most dominant specie was B. parva followed by B. rhodina. Further studies should focus on assessing the distribution of these pathogens within avocado-growing regions of South Africa. / Dissertation (MSc (Plant Pathology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Microbiology and Plant Pathology / unrestricted

Submitted by Mario BC (mario@bc.ufrpe.br) on 2016-12-02T12:54:47Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Soraya de Lima e Silva.pdf: 781402 bytes, checksum: 6f6a41f42d5f65201486956ae0b36300 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-02T12:54:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Soraya de Lima e Silva.pdf: 781402 bytes, checksum: 6f6a41f42d5f65201486956ae0b36300 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-12 / Dieback and stem-end rot, caused by species of Botryosphaeriaceae, are important diseases of mango in the Brazilian Northeast. These diseases limit the production and drastically reduce fruit quality, directly affecting exports. In this study, was investigated the effects of wound, humidity and temperature in virulence of five Lasiodiplodia species prevalent in the orchards of northeastern Brazil (L. hormozganensis, L. iraniensis, L. pseudotheobromae, L. theobromae and L. viticola). Lasiodiplodia hormozganensis, L. pseudotheobromae and L. theobromae did not induce symptoms in non-wounded fruits, but all Lasiodiplodia species induced symptoms in wounded fruits. There were differences between species in relation to virulence levels both in the absence and in the presence of wound. The wound age in fruits influenced the virulence of Lasiodiplodia species of all species has expressed increased virulence when inoculated immediately after the wound, reducing the virulence with increasing wound age. Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae was the most sensitive species to the wound age. The high relative humidity length influenced the virulence of the Lasiodiplodia species, with an increase in virulence with the lifting of the period under high humidity. Lasiodiplodia hormozganensis, L. iraniensis and L. theobromae induced symptoms in the absence of high humidity. The virulence of Lasiodiplodia species was significantly influenced by the time interval between the inoculation and beginning of high relative humidity. All species expressed increased virulence when exposed to high relative humidity immediately after inoculation and decreased virulence with increasing time interval to beginning of high humidity. Lasiodiplodia iraniensis and L. viticola were the species most sensitive to the delay in onset of high relative humidity. No Lasiodiplodia species induced symptoms in fruit stored at 5 ° C and only L. pseudotheobromae induced symptoms at 10 ° C. There was no significant difference between species in relation to the optimum temperature for maximum virulence expression, ranging between 29.6 and 31.3 ° C. In most experiments, the increased virulence was demonstrated by L. iraniensis while L. viticola was less virulent. / A morte descendente e a podridão peduncular, causadas por espécies de Botryosphaeriaceae, são importantes doenças da mangueira no Nordeste brasileiro. Essas doenças limitam a produção e reduzem drasticamente a qualidade dos frutos, afetando diretamente a exportação. Nesse estudo, foi investigado o efeito de ferimento, umidade e temperatura na virulência de cinco espécies de Lasiodiplodia prevalentes em pomares de mangueira do Nordeste brasileiro (L. hormozganensis, L. iraniensis, L. pseudotheobromae, L. theobromae e L. viticola). Lasiodiplodia hormozganensis, L. pseudotheobromae e L. theobromae não induziram sintomas em frutos sem ferimento, mas todas as espécies de Lasiodiplodia induziram sintomas em frutos feridos. Houve diferença entre as espécies em relação aos níveis de virulência tanto na ausência como na presença de ferimento. A idade do ferimento nos frutos influenciou no nível de virulência das espécies de Lasiodiplodia e todas as espécies expressaram a maior virulência quando inoculadas imediatamente após a realização do ferimento, reduzindo a virulência com a elevação da idade do ferimento. Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae foi a espécie mais sensível à idade do ferimento. O tempo de duração da umidade relativa elevada influenciou na virulência das espécies de Lasiodiplodia, havendo um aumento na virulência com a elevação do período em umidade elevada. Lasiodiplodia hormozganensis, L. iraniensis e L. theobromae induziram sintomas na ausência de umidade elevada. A virulência das espécies de Lasiodiplodia foi influenciada significativamente pelo intervalo de tempo entre a inoculação e o início da umidade relativa elevada. Todas as espécies expressaram a maior virulência quando submetidas à umidade relativa elevada imediatamente após a inoculação e reduziram a virulência com o aumento do intervalo de tempo para início da umidade relativa elevada. Lasiodiplodia iraniensis e L. viticola foram as espécies mais sensíveis à demora para início da umidade relativa elevada. Nenhuma espécie de Lasiodiplodia induziu sintomas em frutos armazenados a 5 ºC e somente L. pseudotheobromae induziu sintomas a 10 ºC. Não houve diferença significativa entre as espécies em relação à temperatura ótima para expressão da máxima virulência, que variou entre 29,6 e 31,3 ºC. Na maioria dos experimentos, a maior virulência foi evidenciada por L. iraniensis, enquanto L. viticola foi a menos virulenta.

Submitted by (lucia.rodrigues@ufrpe.br) on 2017-02-16T14:00:28Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Alba Valeria da Silva Pereira.pdf: 458155 bytes, checksum: 80e5a16e6ef2e1ee3b97cac4fbc53703 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-02-16T14:00:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Alba Valeria da Silva Pereira.pdf: 458155 bytes, checksum: 80e5a16e6ef2e1ee3b97cac4fbc53703 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-03-16 / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / Application of fungicide is the main measure of management to stem-end rot and there is no information on the sensitivity and on the fitness costs arising from the reduction in sensitivity of its causal agent, Lasiodiplodia theobromae. One hundred and twenty monosporic isolates collected in producing areas of the Northeast region of Brazil, were divided into six populations. We evaluated the in vitro sensitivity (inhibition of mycelial growth) of the isolates to class the fungicides belonging to two groups: benzimidazoles and sterol demethylation inhibitors (DMIs). We also evaluated the fitness of isolates with different levels of sensitivity the fungicides both in vitro and in vivo (mycelial growth and aggressiveness). The average EC50 for DMIs ranged from 0,141 to 4,054, 0,045 to 0,691 and from 0,001 to 1,529 for tebuconazole, prochloraz and imazalil, respectively. The level of sensitivity to DMIs did not differ among populations. For the benzimidazoles EC50 of 91.6% of the isolates ranged from 0,002 to 0,14 and 0,36 in 1,272 (benomyl and thiabendazole,respectively).The 8.4% isolates, classified as not sensitive (NS) were not inhibited at the highest concentration evaluated (100μg ml of a.i-1). All NS isolates were from the same population. The aggressiveness of NS isolated was lower. / A aplicação de fungicida é a principal medida de manejo para podridão peduncular e não há informações sobre a sensibilidade e custos adaptativos decorrentes da redução de sensibilidade do seu agente causal, Lasiodiplodia theobromae. Cento e vinte isolados monospóricos, coletados em áreas produtoras da região Nordeste do Brasil, foram divididos em seis populações. Avaliou-se a sensibilidade in vitro (inibição de crescimento micelial) dos isolados aos fungicidas das classes dos benzimidazois e inibidores da biossíntese de ergosterol (IBEs) e a adaptabilidade in vitro e in vivo (crescimento micelial e agressividade) de isolados com níveis distintos de sensibilidade aos fungicidas testados. A CE50 média para os IBEs variou de 0,141 a 4,054, 0,045 a 0,691 e 0,001 a 1,529 para o tebuconazol, prochloraz e imazalil, respectivamente. O nível de sensibilidade aos IBEs não diferiu entre populações. Para os benzimidazóis a CE50 de 91,6% dos isolados variou de 0,002 a 0,14 e 0,36 a 1,272(benomyl e tiabendazol, respectivamente). Os 8,4%, classificados como não sensíveis (NS), não foram inibidos na maior concentração avaliada (100μg de i.a. ml-1). Todos os isolados NS foram oriundos de uma mesma população. A agressividade dos isolados NS foi menor. Para os IBEs, não foi detectado nenhum custo adaptativo.

Thesis (M. Sc. (Agriculture, Horticulture)) --University of Limpopo, 2016 / ‘Reed’ avocado is a late season cultivar introduced to South Africa from California. The cultivar has shown good adaptation and produces quality fruit with export potential. Its pre-harvest adaptation and production aspects have been researched and documented. However, the effect of harvest time, post-harvest storage and ripening temperature has not been comprehensively studied on this newly introduced ‘Reed’ avocado cultivar. Therefore, the aim of this work was to investigate the effect of different harvest time, post-harvest storage and ripening temperature on the quality of late season ‘Reed’ avocado fruit. Matured ‘Reed’ avocado fruit were harvested based on moisture content indexing in December (2015) and January (2016). The experiment was carried out in a factorial, arranged in a completely randomised design (CRD) with three replicates. Treatment factors were: 2 x harvest time (mid-and late), 2 x post-harvest storage (2.0 and 5.5°C), 3 x ripening temperature (16, 21 and 25°C) and 5 x ripening day (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8). Fruit were stored at 2.0 and 5.5°C for 28 days, thereafter, ripened at 16, 21 and 25°C until fully ripe. During ripening, fruit were evaluated for weight loss, skin colour, firmness, respiration rate, physiological and pathological disorders. Mid-harvest fruit had higher moisture content when compared with late harvest fruit. However, harvest time, post-harvest storage, ripening temperature and ripening time (days) significantly influenced fruit weight loss, firmness, respiration rate, ripening percentage of ‘Reed’ avocado fruit during ripening. Moreover, fruit firmness decreased faster at higher temperatures (25 and 21°C) with fruit ripening within 4 and 6 days, respectively. In addition, ripening at a lower temperature (16°C) was slower with fruit fully ripened within 8 days after withdrawal from cold storage at both harvest times. ‘Reed’ avocado fruit respiration rate followed a climacteric pattern, however, significantly higher rate at higher temperature (25°C) when compared with lower temperature (16°C) after withdrawal from cold storage during both harvest times. Interestingly, mid-harvest fruit showed high electrolyte damage after withdrawal from 2.0°C when compared with late harvest fruit at the same temperature. Furthermore, mid-harvest fruit stored at 2.0ºC and ripened at 21°C showed higher chilling injury when compared with fruit ripened at 16 and 25°C. High electrolyte leakage positively correlated (R2 = 0.242) with high chilling damage for xiv mid-harvest fruit stored 5.5°C. Treatment factors had a significant effect (P < 0.05) on lightness (L *) and hue angle (h ) but no significant effect (P > 0.05) on chroma (C *) and eye colour of ‘Reed’ avocado fruit during ripening, irrespective of harvest time. Overall results showed a visual change in ‘Reed’ avocado skin colour, with eye colour changing from green to bright yellow. Furthermore, late harvest fruit showed high post-harvest pathological diseases after removal from high temperature (5.5°C) when compared with mid-harvest fruit stored at low storage temperature (2.0°C). Ripening at a higher temperature (21 and 25°C) resulted in higher incidence of stem-end rot and body rot when compared with lower temperature (16°C) for both harvest times. Late harvest fruit showed a higher incidence of vascular browning at higher ripening temperatures (21 and 25°C) when compared with lower temperature (16°C) after withdrawal from cold storage. Moreover, overall results showed that harvest time, post-harvest storage and the ripening temperature had a profound influence on the quality of ‘Reed’ avocado fruit. In conclusion, ‘Reed’ avocado fruit can be harvested during mid- or late season and stored at recommended low temperature (2.0ºC); and thereafter, ripened at either 16 or 21ºC. In addition, future studies should focus on identifying pre-harvest practices that promote higher post-harvest fruit quality for ‘Reed’ avocado fruit under South African production environment. Keywords: ‘Reed’ avocado fruit; firmness; electrolyte leakage; respiration rate; stem-end rot; body rot; vascular browning